The local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian took place on Tuesday at Antim Monastery in Bucharest.
On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at an outdoor altar arranged in the courtyard of the monastery.
The service was led by Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube, together with Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos, Botris and dependencies (Patriarchate of Antioch), Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, Bishop Qais of Erzurum (Patriarchate of Antioch), Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
Proclamation of the Canonization of Saint Sofian
The solemn moment of the local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim took place at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.
The Synodal Tomos was read by Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube, after which the troparion of the saint was sung. The document mentioned several aspects of Saint Sofian’s life, including his participation in the meetings of the “Burning Bush”.
“Saint Sofian, during this period, acquired the practice of the prayer of the heart, under the guidance of Father John Kulygin, a man of holy life who had been formed in the hesychast tradition of Saint Paisius at Optina Monastery.”
Confessor, Spiritual Father and Painter
Patriarch Daniel sent a message for the occasion of the local proclamation of Saint Sofian of Antim. “In the 20th century, God granted the Romanian people great spiritual luminaries who strengthened the nation in faith through their prayers, deeds and teachings.
Among these great ascetics is Saint Sofian the Confessor of Antim, who shone in the capital of Romania through his love and gentleness,” His Beatitude said.
The Patriarch highlighted three major aspects of Saint Sofian’s vocation.
“In his holy life, we can see three principal works which reveal his spiritual calling: he was a confessor of the faith under an atheist regime, a hesychast spiritual father, and a church painter.”
Feast of the “Apostle of Bucharest”
Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube said the local proclamation of Saint Sofian of Antim was a feast of the “Apostle of Bucharest,” as the saint was known.
“He was a confessor who never judged anyone, who loved even his tormentors, and who regretted leaving the prison at Balta Brăilei, saying that he had lost the peace he had there.”
The Archbishop recalled a moment when Saint Sofian urged him to bring peace to the people—but only after first receiving the peace of Christ himself.
Diplomas and Awards
At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube presented diplomas and distinctions on behalf of the Patriarch of Romania.
The Diploma of the Commemorative Year of the Centenary of the Romanian Patriarchate, accompanied by a medal, was awarded to Gheorghe Stan and Nelu Păun for defending the Orthodox faith, promoting culture, and strengthening Christian life.
Saint Sofian of Antim
Saint Sofian (born Serghei Boghiu) was born on October 7, 1912, in Cuconeștii Vechi, Bălți County, and reposed on September 14, 2002, at Antim Monastery in Bucharest.
He entered Rughi Monastery in Soroca County in 1926 at the age of 14. He later studied at the chanters’ school of Dobrușa Monastery, at the monastic seminary of Cernica Monastery (1932–1940), at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest (1940–1945), and at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest (1942–1946).
He was tonsured a monk at Dobrușa Monastery in 1937 under the name Sofian, ordained a hierodeacon in 1939, and a hieromonk in 1945 for Antim Monastery in Bucharest, where he served as abbot between 1950 and 1955, and again in the last years of his life.
In 1958, he was arrested with the Burning Bush group and sentenced to 15 years in prison, being released in 1964. He reposed in 2002 and was buried at Căldărușani Monastery.
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church canonized Saint Sofian in 2024, assigning his feast day to September 16, along with fifteen other confessors of the 20th century. The general proclamation of their canonization took place on February 4 at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, during the centenary celebrations of the Romanian Patriarchate.
Saint Sofian of Antim is the first Orthodox saint canonized who lived in the 21st century.
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Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
